The Visit of Pope John Paul II to Cuba

His Holiness Pope John Paul II will begin his 81st papal visit tomorrow when he travels to Cuba to begin a five day stay.

He will arrive in Havana at 4 pm local time (January 21) where he will make the first of many speeches at the welcoming ceremony. The Pope will spend each night in Havana but will travel on the three following days to three other cities. On January 22nd, the Pope will travel to Santa Clara where he will celebrate an open air mass at 10:15 am. He will then return to Havana for a private meeting with Cuban President Fidel Castro at 6 pm. On January 23rd, His Holiness will go to Camaguey where he will celebrate mass at 10:35 am at Ignacio Agramonte Square where he will administer the sacraments of baptism and confirmation.

Upon his return to Havana he will meet with representatives of the local cultural community at the Great Hall of the University of Havana. On January 24th, he will visit Santiago de Cuba and will celebrate Mass at 11:10 am where he will crown the Virgin of Charity of Corbe. He will return to Havana at 7 pm and visit the Shrine of St. Lazarus. 0n January 25th, the final day of his visit, the Pope will meet ecumenical leaders at the apostolic nunciature at 8 am, celebrate Mass at 9:30 am in Revolution Square followed by the Angelus at noon, then at 12:45 pm meet with members of the Cuban Episcopal Conference. At 5 pm he will meet with clergy, religious, seminarians and the laity in Havana's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and St. Christopher. He will depart from Cuba at 7:30 pm and arrive back in Rome at 12:30 pm On January 26th.

Please note that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops will be represented at the visit by its President, Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte of Montreal and by Rev. Emilius Goulet, p.s.s., CCCB General Secretary.

Media Coverage:

CBC - Newsworld

Date, Time and Program

Program

Wednesday, January 21, 1998

3:45 pm

Arrival of Pope John Paul II in Havana

Thursday, January 22, 1998

10:15 am

Open Air Mass in Santa Clara

Sunday, January 25, 1998

9:30 am

Mass celebrated in Revolution Square in Havana

RDI - Reseau de l'Information

Date, Time and Program

Program

Wednesday, January 21, 1998

4 pm

Arrival of Pope John Paul II in Havana

Thursday, January 22, 1998

9:30 pm

Special program (repeated at 2 am)

Friday, January 23, 1998

9:30 pm

Special program (repeated at 2 am)

Saturday, January 24, 1998

9:30 pm

Special program (repeated at 2 am)

Sunday, January 25, 1998

8:30 am

Mass in Revolution Square, Havana

Sunday, January 25, 1998

9:30 pm

Report on the trip of Pope John Paul II to Cuba

For More Information Contact:
Deacon William Kokesch
Director, Communications Service